Rhode Island

elections.ri.gov/

Deadline Dates

Upcoming Elections
No Federal Elections Scheduled

Please mail your voting materials early enough to account for mail delivery times. Check the recommended mailing dates section in Chapter 1 for details.

Important information

What is UOCAVA?: The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act is commonly referred to as UOCAVA. UOCAVA citizens are U.S. citizens who are active members of the Uniformed Services, the Merchant Marine, the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, their eligible family members and other U.S. citizens residing outside the United States. The law provides the legal basis for absentee voting requirements for federal offices.
What is the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA)?: The FPCA (Federal Standard Form 76) allows UOCAVA citizens to register to vote and request an absentee ballot. This form is also used to update your contact information.
What is the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB)?: The FWAB (Federal Standard Form 186) serves as an emergency backup ballot for UOCAVA citizens. If you do not receive your absentee ballot from your state in time to return it to your election official to participate in the election, use the FWAB.
What is the Prepaid Mail Label 11- DoD?: Overseas Uniformed Service members can use this label for general election absentee ballots. It provides free express mail service to your election official for general election absentee ballots. You can request to have a Prepaid Mail Label 11-DoD applied to your absentee ballot at Military Postal Office locations (APO/FPO). Keep part of the tracking label to track your absentee ballot through the U.S. Postal Service.
What is a primary election?: A primary election is an election held before the general election to determine the candidates that can be placed on the general election ballot.
I am an American citizen, but I have never lived in the U.S., can I vote in this state?: A U.S. citizen who has never resided in the U.S. and has a parent or legal guardian who was last domiciled in Rhode Island, is eligible to vote as a "federal voter" and may vote for federal offices only.
I am a National Guardsman activated on state orders; does my state afford me UOCAVA privileges?: Yes.
How can I check the status of my ballot?: You can check the status of your absentee ballot here:
vote.ri.gov
Does my state have any online tools?: You can see if your state has any online tools available here:
https://www.fvap.gov/rhode-island

Registering and requesting your absentee ballot

Under federal law, the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) temporarily registers you to vote and requests absentee ballots for a minimum of all federal elections in the current calendar year. Be sure to complete a new FPCA each year and every time your address changes.

Complete the following sections of the FPCA

Section 1	Select the category that best describes you. Enter your current name (Last, First). If you are registered under a different name, provide this information in the previous name area. Your date of birth is required. You must provide your Rhode Island-issued ID number or the last four digits of your Social Security Number. If you do not have any of these numbers, you must enter in Section 6: "I do not have a Social Security Number or Rhode Island-issued ID number."
Section 2	Enter the complete street address of your voting residence where you are registering to vote and requesting an absentee ballot. You cannot use a post office box mailing address. If your address is a rural route, use Section 6 to describe the location of your voting residence.
Section 3	Enter your current mailing address, even if you are requesting your ballot by email or online, or fax. If you want your election materials sent to a different address or have a forwarding address, use the forwarding address space to provide this information.
Section 4	Your contact information is recommended so your election official can contact you if they need additional information from you in order to accept your FPCA. If you want to receive your absentee ballot by online or fax, you must provide your email address or fax number.
Section 5	A. Select your preferred method of receiving your absentee ballot. You can choose to receive your absentee ballot by "mail", "email or online", or "fax". B. To vote in primary elections, you must enter the name of the party ballot you want to receive. Political party affiliation is not required if requesting an absentee ballot for general elections.
Section 6	Provide any information that may assist your election official in accepting this form. You can use this space to designate particular elections or the period you wish to receive ballots.
Section 7	Sign and date the form. No witness signature required.

Section 1: Select the category that best describes you.
Enter your current name (Last, First). If you are registered under a different name, provide this information in the previous name area.
Your date of birth is required.
You must provide your Rhode Island-issued ID number or the last four digits of your Social Security Number. If you do not have any of these numbers, you must enter in Section 6: "I do not have a Social Security Number or Rhode Island-issued ID number."
Section 2: Enter the complete street address of your voting residence where you are registering to vote and requesting an absentee ballot. You cannot use a post office box mailing address. If your address is a rural route, use Section 6 to describe the location of your voting residence.
Section 3: Enter your current mailing address, even if you are requesting your ballot by email or online, or fax. If you want your election materials sent to a different address or have a forwarding address, use the forwarding address space to provide this information.
Section 4: Your contact information is recommended so your election official can contact you if they need additional information from you in order to accept your FPCA. If you want to receive your absentee ballot by online or fax, you must provide your email address or fax number.
Section 5: A. Select your preferred method of receiving your absentee ballot. You can choose to receive your absentee ballot by "mail", "email or online", or "fax".
B. To vote in primary elections, you must enter the name of the party ballot you want to receive. Political party affiliation is not required if requesting an absentee ballot for general elections.
Section 6: Provide any information that may assist your election official in accepting this form. You can use this space to designate particular elections or the period you wish to receive ballots.
Section 7: Sign and date the form. No witness signature required.

How and where to submit your FPCA

You can submit the FPCA by mail, email, or fax. Contact information can be found in the "Local Election Offices" section or online at FVAP.gov.

Mail your FPCA: Once your FPCA is complete, sign and date the form. Mail your FPCA directly to your election official.

E-Mail your FPCA: Once your FPCA is complete, sign and date the form. Scan the signed FPCA into your computer. Be sure to also include the "Transmission Cover Sheet". Email this package directly to your election official at uocava@elections.ri.gov.

Fax your FPCA: Once your FPCA is complete, sign and date the form. Fax your FPCA directly to your election official. Be sure to also include the "Transmission Cover Sheet".

To find out the status of your FPCA, contact your election official. Your election official will contact you if your FPCA is not accepted.

Voted Ballot Return

Voting your ballot

Once you receive your absentee ballot from your state it must be returned according to the deadlines and requirements in the "Federal Election Deadlines" chart. For special federal elections, visit FVAP.gov for specific deadlines.

You can submit the state absentee ballot by mail, online*, or fax** (fax only if you requested your absentee ballot by fax).

Mail your ballot directly to:

Rhode Island Board of Elections
2000 Plainfield Pike
Cranston, RI 02921

*You can receive, mark, and return your absentee ballot online using the Rhode Island secure web portal, available at https://vote.sos.ri.gov/Home/UpdateVoterRecord?ActiveFlag=0.

**Fax (fax only if you requested your absentee ballot by fax) your ballot directly to the State Board of Elections at 401-222-6529.

Overseas Uniformed Service members can request to have the Prepaid Mail Label 11-DoD applied to the general election ballot. Additional information about this label can be found in the "Important Information" section.

FWAB

Haven't received your ballot? Use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot

You must be registered to vote and have already requested a state absentee ballot in order to use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB).

You can use the FWAB to vote in all elections for federal, state and local offices, including ballot measures.

Complete the following sections of the FWAB's voter information page

Section 1	Select the category that best describes you. Enter your current name (Last, First). If you are registered under a different name, provide this information in the previous name area. Your date of birth is required.
Section 2	Enter the complete street address of your voting residence where you are registered to vote. You cannot use a post office box mailing address. If your address is a rural route, use Section 6 to describe the location of your voting residence.
Section 3	Enter your current mailing address. If you want your election materials sent to a different address or have a forwarding address, use the forwarding address space to provide this information.
Section 4	Your contact information is recommended so your election official can contact you if they need additional information from you in order to accept your FWAB.
Section 5	A. Do not check "Yes" or "No." The FWAB cannot be used for voter registration or as a ballot request. B. If you want to register to vote, request a ballot, or receive voting materials, you must submit an FPCA to your election official. C. To vote in primary elections, you must enter the name of the party primary in which you are voting. Political party affiliation is not required if voting an absentee ballot in general elections.
Section 6	Provide any information that may assist the election official in accepting this form.
Section 7	Sign and date the form. No witness signature required.

Section 1: Select the category that best describes you.
Enter your current name (Last, First). If you are registered under a different name, provide this information in the previous name area.
Your date of birth is required.
Section 2: Enter the complete street address of your voting residence where you are registered to vote. You cannot use a post office box mailing address. If your address is a rural route, use Section 6 to describe the location of your voting residence.
Section 3: Enter your current mailing address. If you want your election materials sent to a different address or have a forwarding address, use the forwarding address space to provide this information.
Section 4: Your contact information is recommended so your election official can contact you if they need additional information from you in order to accept your FWAB.
Section 5: A. Do not check "Yes" or "No." The FWAB cannot be used for voter registration or as a ballot request.
B. If you want to register to vote, request a ballot, or receive voting materials, you must submit an FPCA to your election official.
C. To vote in primary elections, you must enter the name of the party primary in which you are voting. Political party affiliation is not required if voting an absentee ballot in general elections.
Section 6: Provide any information that may assist the election official in accepting this form.
Section 7: Sign and date the form. No witness signature required.

Vote your FWAB

To vote, write in either a candidate's name or political party for each office. You are not required to make a selection for each and every contest.

How and where to submit your FWAB

You can submit the FWAB by mail, email, or fax (fax only if you requested your absentee ballot by fax). Contact information can be found in the "Local Election Offices" section or online at FVAP.gov.

Mail your FWAB: Once your FWAB is complete, sign and date the "Voter Information" page. Fold along the dotted line and seal the completed "Official Backup Ballot", do not write on the "Official Ballot" envelope. Insert the sealed "Official Ballot" envelope and the "Voter Information" page into the mailing envelope and mail your FWAB directly to:

Rhode Island Board of Elections
2000 Plainfield Pike
Cranston, RI 02921

Email your FWAB: Once your FWAB is complete, sign and date the "Voter Information" page. Scan the signed "Voter Information" page, the "Official Backup Ballot" and the "Transmission Cover Sheet", found at the end of Chapter 1 or online at FVAP.gov, into your computer. Be sure to also sign the secrecy waiver on the "Transmission Cover Sheet". Email this ballot package directly to your election official at uocava@elections.ri.gov.

Fax your FWAB: (fax only if you requested your absentee ballot by fax). Fax your FWAB directly to the State Board of Elections at 401-222-6529. Once your FWAB is complete, sign and date the "Voter Information" page. Fax the signed "Voter Information" page, the "Official Backup Ballot" and the "Transmission Cover Sheet", found at the end of Chapter 1 or online at FVAP.gov, directly to your election official. Be sure to also sign the secrecy waiver on the "Transmission Cover Sheet".

See the "Federal Election Deadlines" chart for the deadline for submitting the FWAB. If you receive the state absentee ballot after transmitting your voted FWAB, you may also vote and return the state absentee ballot. If both are received by the deadline, only the state absentee ballot will be counted.

Election Offices

Local election offices for citySearch Offices

City	Mailing Address
Central Falls	Central Falls Board of Canvassers 580 Broad St Central Falls, RI 02863 Phone: (401) 727-7450 Fax: (401) 724-2031 Email: adeburgo@centralfallsri.us
Cranston	Cranston Board of Canvassers 869 Park Ave Cranston, RI 02910 Phone: (401) 780-3121 Fax: (401) 780-3125 Email: nlima@cranstonri.gov
East Providence	East Providence Board of Canvassers 145 Taunton Ave East Providence, RI 02914 Phone: (401) 435-7502 Fax: (401) 563-4333 Email: lshattuck-moore@eastprovidenceri.gov
Newport	Newport Board of Canvassers 43 Broadway Newport, RI 02840 Phone: (401) 845-5386 Fax: (401) 848-5750 Email: hmoren@CityofNewport.com
Pawtucket	Pawtucket Board of Canvassers 137 Roosevelt Ave Pawtucket, RI 02860 Phone: (401) 722-1637 Fax: (401) 729-9499 Email: kmcgill@pawtucketri.com
Providence	Providence Board of Canvassers 25 Dorrance St Providence, RI 02903 Phone: (401) 421-0495 Fax: (401) 421-9397 Email: mnarducci@providenceri.gov
Warwick	Warwick Board of Canvassers 3275 Post Rd Warwick, RI 02886 Phone: (401) 738-2010 Fax: (401) 732-3439 Email: Krista.M.Tracy@Warwickri.gov
Woonsocket	Woonsocket Board of Canvassers 169 Main St, PO Box B Woonsocket, RI 02895 Phone: (401) 767-9221 Fax: (401) 767-9226 Email: gsavastano@woonsocketri.org

Local election offices for townSearch Offices

Town	Mailing Address
Barrington	Barrington Board of Canvassers 283 County Rd Barrington, RI 02806 Phone: (401) 247-1900 x1 Fax: (401) 247-3765 Email: mdesisto@barrington.ri.gov
Bristol	Bristol Board of Canvassers 10 Court St Bristol, RI 02809 Phone: (401) 253-7000 x2 Fax: (401) 253-2647 Email: mcordeiro@bristolri.gov
Burrillville	Burrillville Board of Canvassers 105 Harrisville Main St Harrisville, RI 02830 Phone: (401) 568-4300 x7 Fax: (401) 568-0490 Email: elections@burrillville.org
Charlestown	Charlestown Board of Canvassers 4540 South County Trail Charlestown, RI 02813 Phone: (401) 364-1200 Fax: (401) 364-1238 Email: arweinreich@charlestownri.gov
Coventry	Coventry Board of Canvassers 1670 Flat River Rd Coventry, RI 02816 Phone: (401) 822-9150 Fax: (401) 822-9132 Email: landerson@coventryri.org
Cumberland	Cumberland Board of Canvassers 45 Broad St Cumberland, RI 02864 Phone: (401) 475-9040 Fax: (401) 724-1103 Email: sgiovanelli@cumberlandri.org
East Greenwich	East Greenwich Board of Canvassers PO Box 111, 125 Main St East Greenwich, RI 02818 Phone: (401) 886-8603 Fax: (401) 886-8625 Email: evespia@eastgreenwichri.com
Exeter	Exeter Board of Canvassers 675 Ten Rod Rd Exeter, RI 02822 Phone: (401) 294-2287 Fax: (401) 295-1248 Email: canvassers@exeterri.gov
Foster	Foster Board of Canvassers 181 Howard Hill Rd Foster, RI 02825 Phone: (401) 392-9200 x1 Fax: (401) 702-5010 Email: sdillon@townoffoster.com
Glocester	Glocester Board of Canvassers 1145 Putnam Pike, PO Box B Chepachet, RI 02814 Phone: (401) 568-6206 x0 Fax: (401) 568-5850 Email: jeanfecteau@glocesterri.gov
Hopkinton	Hopkinton Board of Canvassers 1 Town House Road Hopkinton, RI 02833 Phone: (401) 377-7777 x1 Fax: (401) 377-7788 Email: townclerk@hopkintonri.gov
Jamestown	Jamestown Board of Canvassers 93 Narragansett Ave Jamestown, RI 02835 Phone: (401) 423-9801 Fax: (401) 423-7230 Email: kford@jamestownri.net
Johnston	Johnston Board of Canvassers 1385 Hartford Ave Johnston, RI 02919 Phone: (401) 553-8856 Fax: (401) 553-8862 Email: ctravisono@johnston-ri.us
Lincoln	Lincoln Board of Canvassers PO Box 100, 100 Old River Rd Lincoln, RI 02865 Phone: (401) 333-1140 Fax: (401) 333-3648 Email: lsilva@lincolnri.org
Little Compton	Little Compton Board of Canvassers PO Box 226, 40 Commons Little Compton, RI 02837 Phone: (401) 635-4400 Fax: (401) 635-2470 Email: cwordell@littlecomptonri.org
Middletown	Middletown Board of Canvassers 350 East Main Rd Middletown, RI 02842 Phone: (401) 849-5540 Fax: (401) 845-0406 Email: wmarshall@middletownri.gov
Narragansett	Narragansett Board of Canvassers 25 Fifth Ave Narragansett, RI 02882 Phone: (401) 782-0625 Fax: (401) 783-9637 Email: smasson@narragansettri.gov
New Shoreham	New Shoreham Board of Canvassers PO Box 220, 16 Old Town Rd New Shoreham, RI 02807 Phone: (401) 466-3200 Fax: (401) 466-3219 Email: mmcginnes@newshorehamri.gov
North Kingstown	North Kingstown Board of Canvassers 100 Fairway Dr. North Kingstown, RI 02852 Phone: (401) 268-1553 Fax: (401) 583-4140 Email: jalyward@northkingstownri.gov
North Providence	North Providence Board of Canvassers 2000 Smith St North Providence, RI 02911 Phone: (401) 232-0900 x1230 Fax: (401) 719-1609 Email: bocdirector@northprovidenceri.gov
North Smithfield	North Smithfield Board of Canvassers 83 Greene St North Smithfield, RI 02896 Phone: (401) 767-2200 x504 Fax: (401) 356-4057 Email: jbuttie@nsmithfieldri.org
Portsmouth	Portsmouth Board of Canvassers 2200 East Main Rd Portsmouth, RI 02871 Phone: (401) 683-3157 Fax: (401) 683-2107 Email: jschulz@portsmouthri.gov
Richmond	Richmond Board of Canvassers 5 Richmond Townhouse Rd Wyoming, RI 02898 Phone: (401) 539-9000 x9 Fax: (401) 539-1089 Email: townclerk@richmondri.com
Scituate	Scituate Board of Canvassers PO Box 328, 195 Danielson Pike North Scituate, RI 02857 Phone: (401) 647-2822 x1 Fax: (401) 647-7220 Email: gtaylor@scituateri.org
Smithfield	Smithfield Board of Canvassers 64 Farnum Pike Smithfield, RI 02917 Phone: 401-233-1001 Fax: (401) 232-7244 Email: lantonuccio@smithfieldri.gov
South Kingstown	South Kingstown Board of Canvassers 180 High St Wakefield, RI 02879 Phone: (401) 789-9331 x1231 Fax: (401) 788-9792 Email: mdurkin-couture@southkingstownri.gov
Tiverton	Tiverton Board of Canvassers 343 Highland Rd Tiverton, RI 02878 Phone: (401) 625-6703 Fax: (401) 625-6705 Email: canvassers@tiverton.ri.gov
Warren	Warren Board of Canvassers 514 Main St Warren, RI 02885 Phone: (401) 245-7340 x4 Fax: (401) 245-7421 Email: ssperoni@townofwarren-ri.gov
West Greenwich	West Greenwich Board of Canvassers 280 Victory Hwy West Greenwich, RI 02817 Phone: (401) 392-3800 x100 Fax: (401) 392-3805 Email: townclerk@wgtownri.org
West Warwick	West Warwick Board of Canvassers 1170 Main St West Warwick, RI 02893 Phone: (401) 827-9038 Fax: (401) 822-9266 Email: srapose@westwarwickri.org
Westerly	Westerly Board of Canvassers 45 Broad St Westerly, RI 02891 Phone: (401) 348-2503 Fax: (401) 348-2571 Email: electionsclerk@westerlyri.gov

Rhode Island

Deadline Dates

No Federal Elections Scheduled

Important Information